Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale says Commissioners have failed the county

Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale said the County Commission today in its vote to slash the budget for his office by $4 million has "failed the people of this county miserably."

The sheriff had said his office could withstand a budget cut of $2.9 million and continue operating through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30 without major disruptions to services.

"To pass a resolution such as this while under court order to act in good faith negotiations is offensive to me, to the people we protect and I believe it will be to Judge Boohaker as well," Hale said.

Boohaker last week ordered the commission and the sheriff's office to negotiate to come up with reasonable cuts for his office's budget.

"The Judge ordered us to cooperate and study the impact of cuts on public safety. We have asked the commissioners twice in the last week to sit down and discuss this with us and have yet to get a response from any of them," Hale said. "I am certain they have not complied with the courts order and our attorneys will be asking that the Commissioners be held in contempt."